Back to EveryPatent.com
| United States Patent |
5,715,773
|
|
Martelius
|
February 10, 1998
|
Apparatus for aquaculture
Abstract
An apparatus for aquaculture, in particular for rearing water-dwelling fry,
which is intended to be placed preferably in flowing water or water with
some wave formation, is kept floating with the aid of floating elements,
and consists of a breeding space formed by two end walls, two side walls,
and a bottom plate, where the side walls have a number of openings. A
flow-intensifying member is arranged in the upper edge of the breeding
space. The size of the openings is adjustable.
| Inventors:
|
Martelius; Andreas (Hogeruds G.ang.rd, S-671 95 Klassbol, SE)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
553353 |
| Filed:
|
November 16, 1995 |
| PCT Filed:
|
May 19, 1994
|
| PCT NO:
|
PCT/SE94/00450
|
| 371 Date:
|
November 16, 1995
|
| 102(e) Date:
|
November 16, 1995
|
| PCT PUB.NO.:
|
WO94/27427 |
| PCT PUB. Date:
|
December 8, 1994 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
| May 26, 1993[SE] | 9301781 |
| Mar 08, 1994[SE] | 9400752 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
119/223 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A01K 061/00; A01K 063/00 |
| Field of Search: |
119/208,223,239,240
43/6.5
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2064408 | Dec., 1936 | Blecker | 43/6.
|
| 2163282 | Jun., 1939 | Hovden | 43/6.
|
| 4013042 | Mar., 1977 | Ingold | 119/223.
|
| 4079698 | Mar., 1978 | Neff et al. | 119/223.
|
| 4798169 | Jan., 1989 | Rosen et al. | 119/223.
|
| 4839062 | Jun., 1989 | Sanders | 43/6.
|
| 4909186 | Mar., 1990 | Nakamune et al. | 119/223.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 2507436 | Dec., 1982 | FR | 119/223.
|
| 64-2520 | Jan., 1989 | JP.
| |
| 626740 | Oct., 1978 | SU | 119/223.
|
| 1117-027 A | Oct., 1984 | SU.
| |
| 1110020 | Apr., 1968 | GB.
| |
| 2026823 | Feb., 1980 | GB.
| |
Primary Examiner: Swiatek; Robert P.
Assistant Examiner: Shaw; Elizabeth
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fasth Law Firm
Claims
I claim:
1. An apparatus for aquaculture for rearing water-dwelling fry, the
apparatus is adapted to be floating in flowing water or in water having
some wave formation, the apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a floating element attached to the frame;
two opposite end walls;
two opposite side walls placed in between the end walls and attached
thereto;
a bottom plate attached to the end walls and the side walls so that the end
walls, side walls and the bottom plate form a structure, the structure
having an upper edge;
a breeding space defined by the structure;
a flow-intensifying member attached to the upper edge of the structure, the
flow-intensifying member having solid walls; and
a plurality of openings defined in the structure, the openings having a
size that is adjustable.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the flow-intensifying member
is movably attached to the structure and a portion of the
flow-intensifying member is vertically adjustable.
3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the flow-intensifying member
has an inflow end and an outflow end, the outflow end is more narrow than
the inflow end and the outflow end is attached to the structure.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the openings are defined in
the side walls and the size of the openings is adjustable by sliding
plates attached to the side walls.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the structure is vertically
adjustable relative to the floating element.
6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the floating element is
secured to the frame and the frame is attached to the structure and
vertically adjustable relative thereto so that when the apparatus is
placed in water, the vertical position of the structure is adjustable
relative to a water level of the water.
7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus has a movable
section in the bottom plate that is movable between an open position and a
closed position, the movable section is aligned with the flow-intensifying
member.
8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the apparatus includes an
adjusting plate attached to the frame and positioned below the movable
section, the adjusting plate has a front part and a lower part, the front
part is angled obliquely upwardly towards the flow-intensifying member and
the lower part is substantially parallel to the structure.
9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the front part of the
adjusting plate is movable into a position that is parallel to the
structure.
10. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the bottom plate has a
movable portion that is movable between an open position and a closed
position, the movable portion is remote from the movable section.
11. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the movable section is
slot-shaped when the movable section is in the open position.
12. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bottom plate slopes
downwardly from one of the end walls attached to the flow-intensifying
member towards the opposite end wall.
13. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus has a
transparent protective sheet placed on top of the structure.
14. An apparatus for aquaculture for rearing water-dwelling fry, the
apparatus is adapted to be floating in flowing water or in water having
some wave formation, the apparatus comprising:
a frame;
two opposite end walls;
two opposite side walls placed in between the end walls and attached
thereto;
a bottom plate attached to the end walls and the side walls so that the end
walls, side walls and the bottom plate from a rectangular-shaped
structure, the structure having an upper edge, the bottom plate having a
movable section that is movable between an open position and a closed
position;
a breeding space defined by the structure;
a floating element attached to the frame, the floating element being
vertically adjustable relative to the frame so that when the apparatus is
placed in water, the vertical position of the structure is adjustable
relative to a water level of the water, the floating element being aligned
with the movable section of the bottom plate;
a flow-intensifying member having an inflow end and an outflow end, the
outflow end being more narrow than the inflow end, the outflow being
movably attached to the upper edge of the structure, the flow-intensifying
member having a portion that is vertically adjustable relative to the
frame, the bottom plate sloping downwardly and away from the
flow-intensifying member;
a plurality of openings defined in the side walls, the openings having a
size that is adjustable by sliding plates attached to the side walls;
an adjusting plate attached to the frame, the adjusting plate being
positioned below the movable section of the bottom plate, the adjusting
plate having a front part and a lower part, the front part being angled
obliquely upwardly towards the flow-intensifying member and the lower part
being substantially parallel to the structure; and
a transparent protective sheet placed on top of the structure.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus for aquaculture. In this
connection, aquaculture is to be understood as breeding of fish, fish fry,
crustaceans and molluscs. In particular, the invention relates to an
apparatus for rearing fish fry from the free-swimming fry stage after egg
hatching until the young-fish stage has been reached, although the
apparatus is also suitable as hatchery equipment for species with attached
spawn and for keeping e.g. mother fish.
STATE OF THE ART
Rearing water-dwelling fry and fish has increased in recent years and
become all the more important both as a source of income and for the
continued existence of many species of fish in places where their natural
reproduction grounds have been destroyed or made inaccessible, or where
the risk of genetic impoverishment exists. For this reason, many proposals
have been made in order to facilitate the rearing of fry and fish where
their growth environment can be controlled and they can be protected from
external dangers. The majority of these are different types of breeding
spaces which are placed in surrounding water and which provide protection
for the fry during their growth.
Important factors for the growth environment are the water circulation and
thus the oxygenation of the water and the hygiene in the breeding spaces.
GB 2 026 823 describes, for example, a breeding space which floats on the
water and in which the water circulation is brought about by means of a
pump which pumps water into the space and an adjustable outlet. The pump
capacity and the outlet opening are adjusted so that a higher water level
and thus a higher pressure are obtained in the water in the space, which
leads to a circulation of the water in the space. GB 1110 020 describes a
breeding space which is lowered into the water, with a pump system which
sucks water from the bottom of the space and inlet openings in the upper
edge of the side walls of the space in order to bring about a water
circulation. The disadvantages with both systems are that for one thing
they require pump arrangements with accompanying power requirements, and
that adjustment of the water circulation for different conditions cannot
be carried out satisfactorily and that cleaning the breeding spaces is
relatively complicated. All in all, this means that an optimum breeding
environment is difficult to achieve.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The aim of the present invention is to remedy the above disadvantages in a
manner which, without pump arrangements, can ensure good water circulation
with the aid of a number of adjustment possibilities in order to achieve
an optimum breeding environment for the water-dwelling fry in a simple and
effective manner. An apparatus is thus proposed which comprises a breeding
space which is placed in a suitable watercourse, preferably flowing water
such as brook mouths, straits, rivers and open water with some wave
formation, and which is kept floating with the aid of floating elements.
The breeding space is defined by two end walls, two side walls and a bottom
which slopes from one end wall to the other and in which the side walls
have a number of openings, characterized in that a flow-intensifying
member is arranged in the upper edge of the breeding space and in that the
size of the openings is adjustable. Moreover, the bottom plate has
openable sections in its upper and lower pan, the slot-shaped opening of
the upper section being directed in the same direction as the
flow-intensifying member and a flow being brought about, via an adjusting
plate which conducts a flow below the breeding space, along the bottom
plate which moves food waste and excrement to the section in the lower pan
so that this can easily be removed.
The flow-intensifying member is preferably fixed in an articulated manner
on the breeding space so that its outer end can be adjusted in the
vertical direction and that the breeding space also can be adjusted in the
vertical direction in relation to the floating elements.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The apparatus according to the invention will be described in detail below
in association with a preferred embodiment and with reference to the
attached drawings, in which
FIG. 1 shows a view in perspective of the apparatus for a preferred
embodiment of the invention,
FIG. 2 shows a side view of the arrangement in FIG. 1, and
FIG. 3 shows a view from above of the arrangement in FIG. 1.
The apparatus for rearing water-dwelling fry according to the invention
which is shown in FIGS. 1-3 comprises a breeding space 1 delimited by two
end walls 2, 3, two side walls 4, 5 and a bottom plate 6. The walls and
the bottom are preferably made from stainless sheet metal, for example SIS
2333 or SIS 2343, but can also be made from any other suitable material
such as, for example, aluminium or plastic. The bottom plate 6 is
preferably arranged so that it slopes downwards from one end wall 2 to the
other end wall 3. At the end wall 3, the bottom plate 6 is designed with a
section 7 which is fixed in an articulated manner on the bottom plate 6
and which is manoeuvred with a manoeuvring member 8 in order, in case of
need, to create an opening in the lower end of the bottom plate 6.
At the transition between the end wall 2 and the bottom plate 6 and at a
distance from the latter, there is an adjusting plate 21 which can be
pushed out and can be set in various angular positions. A lower position
is designated 21'. The adjusting plate 21 is designed so that its outer
part which extends in front of the end wall 2 is angled obliquely upwards
while its inner part which is situated below the bottom plate 6 is
parallel to the upper edge of the breeding space 1 and is arranged so that
it can be pushed parallel thereto in order to increase or reduce the
distance between the outer angled pan of the adjusting plate 21 and the
transition between the end wall 2 and the bottom plate 6.
At the end wall 2, the bottom plate 6 is designed with a section 10 which
is also fixed in an articulated manner on the bottom plate 6 in order to
create an adjustable slot-shaped opening for intake of flowing water which
is conducted down below the breeding space by virtue of the adjusting
plate 21 which can be pushed out. The slot is adjusted with a manoeuvring
member 10.
The side walls 4, 5 are provided with a number of openings 11 placed in
rows along essentially the entire length of the side walls 4, 5, the rows
with openings 11 ending approximately where the end wall 2 merges with the
bottom plate 6. These openings 11 can be circular, oval or designed as
short slits or in another suitable manner and made by punching, drilling
or the like. The size of the openings can be adjusted with a perforated
sliding plate 12, 13 with corresponding opening configuration which lies
close alongside the inside of the side walls 4, 5.
The walls 2-5 and the bottom 6 form a case or box which is open upwards and
which forms the breeding space 1. Arranged around this case is a support
frame 14 which is connected to the case via preferably four
level-adjusting members 15, one in each comer of the case. Along both the
side walls 4, 5 of the case, floating elements 16, in the form of, for
example, plastic pipes which are filled with Frigolit, are fixed to the
support frame.
In the upper edge of one end wall 2, that is to say the wall which is
closest to the openable section 10, a flow-intensifying member 17, which
narrows towards the end which is fixed in the wall 2, is mounted in an
articulatable manner. The flow-intensifying member 17 is preferably of
trough-shaped design but can also have another design. In the upper edge,
a box 9 consisting of grating material can be placed for collecting
creatures and rubbish and in order to prevent this being flushed into the
breeding space 1.
The outer end of the flow-intensifying member 17 can be adjusted in the
vertical direction with the aid of, for example, support struts 18 on both
sides thereof, or in another suitable manner.
Functioning is as follows. The arrangement for rearing water-dwelling fry
is placed in a suitable watercourse, either one which is flowing or in
which there is some wave formation. The arrangement floats on the water by
virtue of the floating elements 16 and, with the aid of the
level-adjusting members 15, the water level in the breeding space can be
adjusted. When the breeding space 1 is in its highest position, it is
possible to carry out e.g. sorting, catching or treatment of the fish or
fry and the bottom can be cleaned. In the lowered position, the
arrangement is so stable that a person can stand on the floating elements
16 without a problem.
In order to obtain the best functioning, the arrangement is placed in the
water in such a manner that the end wall 2 with the wave-intensifying and
flow-intensifying member 17 is directed towards the direction of the flow
or waves. The breeding space 1 is then adjusted vertically with the aid of
the level-adjusting members 15 and the flow-intensifying member 17 is
angled with the aid of the support struts 18 depending upon the flow and
wave conditions so that it conducts a given amount of water into the
breeding space via the member 17 and brings about refilling with water and
a flow and thus oxygenation of the water in the space which then flows out
through the openings 11 in the side walls 4, 5. These openings are
adjusted with the sliding plates 12, 13 for the prevailing conditions in
order to achieve a somewhat higher water level in the breeding space 1 and
thus provide for a good throughflow. Desludging of the openings 11 can
also be carried out easily by guiding the sliding plates 12, 13 to and
fro. By adjusting the size of the openings 11, the arrangement can also be
adapted to different fry sizes.
The sliding plate 21 is set so that a suitable quantity of the downward
flow is directed in below the breeding space 1. A part of this flow is
taken into the breeding space 1 via the slot-shaped opening defined by the
section 10 and acts as a cleaning flow along the sloping bottom plate 6,
that is to say transports excrement and food residues down towards the
lower end of the bottom 6 and the section 7.
On cleaning, the section 7 is opened so that food waste and excrement can
be removed simply from the breeding space 1.
All in all, these adjustment possibilities mean that an optimum throughflow
and thus a good environment for the water-dwelling fry can be provided for
entirely without aids in the form of pumps or the like.
Preferably, the apparatus is also provided with a spring-operated automatic
feeder 19 for automatic feeding of the fry.
The arrangement can also be provided with openable protective hatches 20,
which are preferably transparent, in order to prevent leaves and other
plant pans getting into the breeding space and to prevent gulls and other
seabirds gaining access to the fry.
The arrangement according to the invention has a range of advantages
compared with o the state of the an as a result of its simple and robust
construction and the fact that, as a result of the many adjustment
possibilities, it makes possible very good breeding environments for
water-dwelling fry with a minimum of care and without aids which are
dependent upon electric power. In watercourses without flow and wave
formation, however, the arrangement can be provided with a preferably
solar-cell operated flow arrangement in order to increase the water
throughflow.
From what is indicated, it emerges that the invention cannot be considered
to be limited to the preferred embodiment described above and shown in the
drawings but can be subject to various modifications within the scope of
what is stated in the following patent claims.
Top